Indians who won the Olympic gold medal for India in shooting

Manu Bhaker scripted history on Sunday, July 28, becoming the first Indian female athlete to bag an Olympic medal in shooting. She settled for the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That said, let’s take a look at the list of Indians who won the gold medal for India in shooting.

Interestingly, India have managed just one gold medal so far in shooting, courtesy of Abhinav Bindra in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Though he had set a Qualification Olympic Record at the Athens Olympics in 2004, he couldn't create an impact in the final.

However, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Abhinav Bindra finished fourth in the qualifying round. In the thrilling final, he was tied with Finland's Henri Hakkinen with one shot remaining.

In his final attempt, the Dehradun-born shooter shot a near-perfect 10.8 to secure the gold medal while the Finnish shooter managed 9.7 to settle for the silver medal.

Interestingly, it was the only individual gold medal secured by India until Neeraj Chopra clinched an Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in the men's javelin throw event.

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Indian shooters have bagged a total of five medals in the Olympics

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore created headlines when he became the first Indian shooter to bag an Olympic medal (silver) at the Athens Olympics in 2004. He competed in the men's double trap, overcoming a tough challenge from Wang Zheng from China to secure the silver medal.

Later in the London Olympics 2012, Gagan Narang came out all guns blazing to bag a bronze medal in the men’s 10m air rifle final. Interestingly, it was India's first medal at the London Games.

In the same campaign, Vijay Kumar bagged a silver medal in the Men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol final. With Cuba's Leuris Pupo taking a comfortable lead in the final and other shooters getting eliminated, Vijay won the silver medal.

Manu Bhaker became the fifth shooter and the first female to bag an Olympic medal in shooting. Manu Bhaker scored 221.7 to finish third in the eight-woman final. Interestingly, she missed out on the silver medal by only 0.1 points.

Indian shooters with a gold medal in the Olympics

Abhinav Bindra - Gold - Beijing 2008 - Men’s 10m air rifle

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Indian shooters with silver and bronze medals in the Olympics

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore - Silver - Athens 2004 - Men’s double trap

Gagan Narang - Bronze - London 2012 - Men’s 10m air rifle

Vijay Kumar - Silver - London 2012 - Men’s 25m rapid fire pistol

Manu Bhaker - Bronze - Paris 2024 - Women's 10m air pistol